Magical Murray eliminates champion Nadal
Andy Murray eliminates champion Rafa Nadal in Australian Open
Tuesday, 26, Jan 2010 11:40
By Alistair Potter.
Andy Murray is through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a superb performance against defending champion and world number two Rafael Nadal.
Despite the match ending on a sour note, with Nadal forced to retire because of a knee injury, Murray was in control at the time with a two-set lead and 3-0 up in the third.
A brilliant match saw both players going toe to toe and producing some breathtaking tennis - the contest lasting two hours and 32 minutes for just two-and-a-half sets of play.
Nadal began like a freight train and some incredible shots saw him produce the first break of serve at 3-2 after a couple of lengthy rallies moving both players around the court.
Murray seems to have a newfound belief in his game this season, though, and broke straight back - beginning a run of four straight games in clinching an enthralling first set, 6-3.
The second began in similar fashion with the Spaniard attempting to work his way back into a match that his Scottish opponent was dictating with alarming regularity.
The match was forced into a ten-minute stoppage at 2-3 for a fireworks display nearby, as locals celebrated Australia Day, and the break appeared to affect Murray more than his opponent.
Coming out cold and being forced to serve, Murray gave up another break to his fired-up opponent as Nadal looked to wrestle back control.
But again the fifth seed regained the momentum immediately, breaking back in the next game before a comfortable hold made it 4-4.
Murray forced deuce and then had four break points at 5-5 but couldn't muster a winner against the staunch defence of the Spaniard, with a tiebreak following soon after.
But the Scot was not to be denied - racing into a 6-1 lead with some blistering counter-attacking play and clinching the crucial second set when Nadal dropped a volley into the net.
With Murray now well on top, the writing looked on the wall for the champion.
But rather than a blood-and-thunder third set, the match petered out somewhat when the world number two called on the trainer complaining of discomfort in his right knee.
Nadal was forced to pull out of last year's Wimbledon championships because of knee tendonitis and it was perhaps a fear of aggravating that injury, which kept him out for nearly three months, that resulted in his more cautious approach.
After giving up a break in the second game of the third set and then seeing Murray hold comfortably in the third, the Spaniard conceded at the change of ends - signalling a disappointing end to an otherwise remarkable match.